New court testimony casts doubt on 65-year-old Gerald Declan Radfords claim that he fatally shot 52-year-old gay dog owner John Walter Lay in a Tampa area park on February 2 in self-defense. Radford is facing second-degree murder charges with possible hate crime enhancements.Radford reportedly testified that Lay had completely overpowered him and repeatedly hit him in the face on the day of the shooting, ABC News reported. However, Lays friend Paul Gumpert testified that Lay was very mild-mannered and very dismissive of any pressure against him. Related Prosecutors introduce damning evidence in mysterious case of gay students murder Investigators say that Sheldon Timothy Herrington Jr. made suspicious purchases and web searches before his hook-up disappeared. Despite this, defense attorney Matthew Futch asked Radford in court, Had you not drawn your firearm to defend yourself, do you believe you would have suffered great bodily harm or death? Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Through tears, Radford answered, Yes.Yet, Hillsborough County Chief Medical Examiner Kelly Devers cast doubt on Radfords version of events, testifying that if Lay had been laying or kneeling on Radford (like Radford said), the bullet would have traveled a different path through Lays body. Radford shot Lay in the chest.Several witnesses also testified last Friday that Radford had repeatedly harassed Lay and used homophobic slurs against him for months before the shooting. One day before the shooting, Lay shared a video claiming that Radford had told him Youre going to die.Radford even used slurs to refer to Lay during phone calls from jail after he was arrested for his murder. Under questioning in court, Radford told Assistant State Attorney Justin Diaz that he used slurs against Lay not because of his sexual orientation but because because of the way he treated me.Defense attorneys claimed that Lay had premeditated attacking Radford and pointed to a text message that Lay sent saying that he planned to attack Radford by tackling him if Radford blocked his path again at a local park. One of Lays text messages said, This weekend should be drama. Despite this, Lays friends and family previously told the media that Lay had gone out of his way to avoid Radford after months of ongoing harassment.In my opinion, theres no way in hell this is really self-defense, Albert Darlington, Lays friend and landlord, told The Tampa Bay Times. For over a year, Dec has done nothing but harass Walt. He screams and hollers and calls him a fa****t every time he gets to the dog park. Hell sit there and hell say, Id like to punch him right in the f**king mouth and it has gotten worse and worse and worse. Darlington claimed Radford would also try to bump into Lay as he walked by.I even said to [Radford], What are you trying to do, harass [Lay] until he jumps so you can kick his ass? Darlington recalled. And all [Radford] would do was smile and look at me.Another friend, Andy Prince, claimed that Radford said that he hates gay people, unprompted, and openly talked about carrying of a gun.Police originally didnt arrest Radford after he killed Lay, partly because Radford claimed that he had killed Lay under Floridas stand your ground law. The law allows people who feel a reasonable threat of death or bodily injury to meet force with force rather than retreat. Hillsborough Circuit Judge Samantha Ward, who is overseeing the case, said she will rule on the stand-your-ground motion next week.But despite Radfords claim of self-defense, shortly after Radfords arrest, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said, After analyzing the evidence, it was clear that this man acted from hatred within his heart. This victim also deserved to live free from fear and discrimination based on his sexual orientation.Radford faces life in prison whether he is convicted of second-degree murder or a lesser manslaughter charge. Last March, the Hillsborough County State Attorneys office announced that it would seek enhanced sentencing for Radford under Floridas hate crime statute.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.